Media releasePublished on 22 November 2021

More than two in three Aussies set to shop in-store this festive season

Gen X and Millennials will lead the festive spending spree as businesses prepare for their busiest weeks

Melbourne — 22 November 2021 — A fresh survey by global small business platform Xero reveals Australian consumers will be filling their Christmas stockings in-store this year, with more than two in three (72%) planning a festive shopping trip and one in three (34%) expecting to spend more than $500. The survey also revealed Australians to be an organised bunch, with more than half of shoppers (56%) getting their gis sorted early, planning to do most of their shopping before December.

The ʻXero Summer Resurgence' survey of 1,000 consumers analysed Aussiesʼ purchase intentions and behaviours for Christmas and the coming summer holidays, as well as attitudes towards supporting small businesses for giing needs, when travelling on holidays and into 2022.

Based on the respondents surveyed, generation X is set to lead the shopping spree with one in four (26%) intending to spend between $500 and $1000, and 17 percent to spend more than $1000. Millennials will also be splurging with one in five (21%) set to spend between $500 and $1000, and one in four (27%) planning to spend $300 to $500. Baby Boomers take out the award for the most frugal generation, with fewer than one in five (17%) spending between $500 and $1000, and 23 percent spending $300 to $500.

With a spike in retail spending expected in the last weeks of November, the peak shopping period also coincides with the Black Friday sales. However, when asked if the global sale event will have an impact on their Christmas shopping, 45 percent of respondents said it wouldnʼt influence their plans, and a further 27 percent said theyʼd only participate if they spotted a good special. Only five percent of gi shoppers plan to make all their festive purchases during the event.

Unpredictable shipping times are also driving consumers to switch from online to in-person Christmas shopping this year, with more than half (55%) of all respondents concerned about postage delays.

“Xeroʼs survey shows shoppers are eager to return to their local high streets to source their Christmas presents this year. With Aussies opting to do most of their gi buying towards the end of this month, we can expect to see an influx of cheerful consumers venturing out into their communities to fill up their stockings,” said Joseph Lyons, Managing Director, Xero Australia & Asia.

Festive season support for small business doubles in 2021

Australians will be shopping local this festive season, with more than four in five consumers (83%) eager to purchase from small businesses where they can. This is a significant increase in comparison to 2020, when just 30 percent of Australian consumers were planning to buy more gis from small businesses. Three in 10 (30%) consumers have revealed they plan to shop exclusively with small businesses in 2021.

“The survey indicates Australian small businesses are in for a bumper festive period, busier than last year. It's really encouraging to see consumers actively choosing to shop local, suggesting the past two years has really brought home small business' important place in our economy, and in our communities. Small businesses should hopefully have a spring in their step in time for Santaʼs arrival,” added Lyons.

The spirit of giving remains strong this year

Three in 10 (30%) Aussies are looking to trump their 2020 gi giving, with one in five (21%) planning to spend a little more this year and one in 10 (9%) saying they will be spending a lot more. Just under half of all Australians (49%) will not be loosening their purse strings more than last year, expecting to spend the same amount of money as they did in 2020. Family members can look forward to being spoiled this year, with more than half of (53%) respondents planning to spend more on their family than anyone else, well ahead of themselves (36%) and their significant other (35%). And when it comes to stocking fillers, expect clothing (51%), vouchers (41%) and toys (35%) – the top three gi choices under the Christmas tree this year.

The preferred method of payment this year will be credit card (37%) followed closely by debit card (34%) and cash (19%), while only eight percent of Aus intend on using a buy now pay later service.

Small business splurge to extend beyond silly season

The two-thirds (71%) of Australian consumers who made a conscious effort to support small businesses in 2021 will continue showing the love into 2022, the survey revealed. Two in five (40%) Australians will look to splash more cash this summer than they did last year, splurging on dining out (51%), domestic travel (38%), clothing (32%) and health and wellbeing (27%).

With most states committed to opening borders for travellers, more than three in four (77%) respondents are now planning their next holiday. A local escape or regional road trip is the most popular option (36%), followed by travelling interstate (29%). More than two in five (43%) of those planning a getaway said supporting small businesses will be a major part of their holiday.

The survey shows the main drivers for Australians to support small business are the personalised service they receive (28%), followed by a ʻfeel good factorʼ (23%), and the meaningful connections they are able to make with a business owner and their employees (22%).

ENDS

Media Contact

Xero Australia | Jessica Brophy | +61 431 268 549 jess.brophy@xero.com

About Xeroʼs survey

The survey was commissioned by Xero Australia and undertaken by Pureprofile to analyse Australiansʼ shopping plans for the Christmas season, summer and into 2022. Their sentiment towards purchasing from small businesses for their giing needs, while travelling on holidays and throughout 2022 was also analysed. In November 2021, Pureprofile conducted an online quantitative survey, interviewing 1000 consumers. The Australian survey is nationally representative.

About Xero

Xero is a cloud-based accounting soware platform for small businesses with over 3 million subscribers globally. Through Xero, small business owners and their advisors have access to real-time financial data any time, anywhere and on any device. Xero offers an ecosystem of over 1,000 third-party apps and 300 plus connections to banks and other financial partners. In 2020 and 2021, Xero was included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and in 2020, Xero was recognised by IDC MarketScape as a leader in its worldwide SaaS and cloud-enabled small business finance and accounting applications vendor assessment.

For all media enquiries, please contact the Xero media team.

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